Sunday, January 11, 2009

National Body Challenge is a FREE, comprehensive fitness and weight-loss challenge that provides the tools and inspiration - online, on television and beyond. Among the offerings include a free 30-day pass to Bally Total Fitness, access to customizable meals and fitness plans, over 1,000 healthy recipes and more. A contact at their interactive agency contacted me to write a post about the program. But, I'm not posting just because someone contacted me. I actually worked for the Discovery Health Channel a few years ago and learned about this program from the inside out. They put a lot of effort into making it comprehensive and motivating. Actually, that is where I learned about blogs, especially health and weight loss blogs, and what motivated me to start my blog. I wouldn't say that working there made me want to lose weight, it was just the right place at the right time I suppose. So, to be contacted by them to promote this program, is just a lovely way to come full circle. (And I realize that by sharing this information, they may realize who I am in "real life," but I think I'm okay with that.)

So, I'll also update you later this week on some of the interesting information I find on the site.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Weekly Weigh-in:143 lbs. @ WW on Saturday, January 3rd145 lbs. @ home on Tuesday, January 6th

Goals for 2009Yep, it's my turn ... I figure one woman's resolution is another woman's goal, so today I think I'm ready to share my goals for 2009. Over the years I've learned that one should create S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, & Timely).

* Count points on a daily basisI need to do this to stay accountable to my 1) portion sizes (which were always my downfall) and 2) my intake of fruits and vegetables and water (none of which I currently get enough of)* Go to WW meeting every SaturdayThis is really something I enjoy and find comforting. I crave structure and I like knowing I'll see familiar faces and my meeting leader, even if the crazy receptionist told me to "be careful" when she saw I was 2 lbs. above my goal weight! Yessh! (And it keeps me accountable.)

* Work related: Get 2 "exceeded expectations" and 1 "did not meet expectations" on next formal evaluation. I know this doesn't sound like a very challenging goal, but my company sets uber high standards.

* Post 4x per Week on my Blog/ Visit my fave blogs 4x per Week: I see this as a selfish goal. I have missed being an active part of this community - I am so much happier when I make time for this. It has been interesting going from being a grad student, to unemployed to now working 50-60 hours per week and trying to keep my life trucking along. I am seeking balance my friends.

* Join 1 new club this yearIt could be a new book club, a co-ed sports club, Road Runners, volunteering ... again, I need balance in my life, renewal, not just because of my job, but because my two closest friends are moving out of NYC this year: one is pregnant with twins (her 2nd and 3rd) and is moving to the (faraway) suburbs and the other has ailing parents and is looking to move back to her hometown (100's of miles away). I need to force myself to make more connections.

Okay my friends, there it is. 2008 was a wonderful, roller coaster of a year - things weren't always great, but they were 100x better than they have been in the last 5 years, if not longer.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

I was reading a post by Kim over at Discovering Me and it made me think ... what do I want 2009 to be for me? I guess I have to agree with her that I am a little fearful of what 2009 will bring. Not fear in the sense of anything bad - although that's always possible - but the fear one commenter mentioned of not knowing.

I think it would be good for me to come up with some measurable goals for myself for 2009. I suppose I should also look back at 2008 and see how far I've come. Wow. I don't know what I'm so scared of, but I feel like I'm on top of a mountain, peering alternately over the edge to the landscape down below and up at the sky and mountain tops surrounding me - a lot like I felt when I used to hike in Las Vegas. It's a weird feeling - full of promise and hope. I kinda like the sound of that. It sounds like a nice way to start off the new year :)

I'm a single woman in her mid-30's, trying to navigate "maintenance" in the heart of the Big Apple. I reached my weight loss goal of losing 83 lbs. in November 2007. But this year in “maintenance” has been quite a journey too. I just as proud of keeping 95% of the weight off for a year as I am at losing it in the first place.